Do I have to pay the radio and TV fee in Switzerland?
Yes — every private household pays the media fee, whether or not it owns a TV or radio. The fee under the RTVG is collected by Serafe and billed automatically (Serafe gets addresses from the resident registers). It's around CHF 335 per year per household in 2026. The Federal Council has ordered a reduction: to CHF 312 from 2027 and CHF 300 from 2029. Exempt are, among others, recipients of annual supplementary benefits to AHV/IV (on request) and certain diplomats. Businesses pay a separate, turnover-based fee. In short: yes, per household — even without a TV.
📋 The rules
- Fee per household, even without TV/radio
- Collected by Serafe, billed automatically
- 2026 around CHF 335/year
- From 2027: CHF 312, from 2029: CHF 300
- Exemption with supplementary benefits (on request)
🔓 Exceptions
- Collective households (e.g. care homes): CHF 670/year
- Diplomats/international officials under conditions
- Businesses: separate, turnover-based fee (via the ESTV)
⚠️ Penalties & fines
The fee is compulsory; non-payers get reminders, and the claim can be enforced. An exemption exists only in the cases provided by law, such as supplementary benefits, and only on request (backdatable up to 5 years). Beware a myth: "no TV means I don't have to pay" is false — the fee is household-based and independent of devices. Tip: if you receive supplementary benefits, apply for the exemption, and when moving make sure two households aren't billed twice by mistake.
📎 Official sources
❓ Frequently asked
Do I pay the fee even without a TV?
Yes. The radio and TV fee is household-based and independent of whether you own a TV or radio. Every private household pays it, because it attaches to the household rather than to device reception. Serafe bills it automatically based on the resident register.
How much is the fee in 2026?
In 2026 the fee is around CHF 335 per year per private household. The Federal Council has ordered a reduction, so it drops to CHF 312 from 2027 and CHF 300 from 2029. Collective households such as care homes pay a higher rate of CHF 670.
Who is exempt from the fee?
Exempt are, among others, people who receive annual supplementary benefits to AHV or IV, but only on request. The exemption can be granted up to five years retroactively. Certain diplomats and international officials can also be exempt under specified conditions.
Who collects the fee?
The fee for private households is collected by Serafe AG, which gets addresses from the cantonal and communal resident registers and bills automatically. Businesses pay a separate, turnover-based fee, which runs via the Federal Tax Administration rather than Serafe.
What happens if I don't pay?
The fee is compulsory. Non-payers get reminders, and the claim can be enforced. An exemption exists only in the cases provided by law and only on request. When moving, take care that two households aren't accidentally billed twice for the same period.
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